Machine for twisting strip stock



June 1945. R. F. HEINEMANN MACHINE FOR TWISTING STRIP STOCK Filed Dec. 17, 1942 4 SheetshSheet 1 I I INVEIQTQR' f/CAMRD Ffimvzumvnl HM ATTORNEY June 5, 1945. R. F. HEINEMANN MACHINE FOR TWISTING STRIP STOCK 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 17, 1942 INVENTOR I ATTORNEY f 1945- R. F. HEINEMANN v MACHINE FOR TWISTING STRIP STOCK Filed Dec. 17, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VE N TOR Emu/4x0 [Views/mm ATTORNEY June 5, 1945-- R. F. HEINEMANN MACHINE FOR' TWISTING STRIP STOCK Fild Dec. 17, 1942 4 Sheeps-Sheei 4 INVENTOR Elm-men F1527 ATTDRNEY Patented June 5, 1945 UNITED STA E :o F Eiw;- I 2377,629 f t qf C MACHINE FOR'TWISTING STRIP s nocn: P

Ri'chardF. Heinemaml, o k dicamg Application December-117, 19d2,=Se1:ial;No..ili9,380

; 11. Claims. My invention relatesto improvements in apparat'us for' shaping'strip material into evenly spaced spiral form. V i The invention is directedto solving the problem of unevenpitch' usually imparted to a strip when it is twisted between two throats, which.

patent: statutes 9 and not with. the intention". oi limiting-the scope offmy patentto-the. precise details illustrated except asthis may be required unevenness is due somewhat tothe unavoidable inequality of strength throughout said strip,

causing portions-of it to twist into a closer spiral thanother portions. 4 i

Thebroad object of my invention is topro-- Vida-apparatus by: which accurately spaced and accurately shaped convolutions of any desired pitch can be imparted to strip stock; andpardesired.

ticularly' where closely spaced convolutions are Oneobject of my invention. is to provide means to" vary the pitch of the convolutio-ns either by changing therel'ative' position of the two throats about their common axis or by moving the throats toward or" from each other along their-common axis, or by'b'oth means.

Another object is to provide means fonone throat which enables the throat members to be adjusted'to conformto the desired pitchand at the same time enable said members to space and form-theiconvolutions accurately so that when saidstrip emerges from said throat it is. per- Other objects and advantages of my invention not here enumerated will become evident from thefollowing description and from the drawings, imwhich: i

Fig. I is. a general'plan view of cneform of machine;

Fig. 2 is a'verti'cal sectional view taken on the lineIIII of'Fig. land Fig. 13; v i i partly in section Figs. 3, 4 and5 are diagrammaticside eleva tional' views of the shaping portion-ofthe appa-= rat'us; each adjusted to imparta differentipitch to'the stri'p material: l

. Figs-6, 7' and 8are views in perspective coniorming'to Figs. 3; 4 and 5respectively;

Fig. 9 is aview 'invertical elevation looking in.

the'direction ofthe, arrows IX in Fig. 4;

Figs; 10. and 11 are diagrammaticviews show ing'th'e throats shifted Iabout'their common axis;

Fig; 12is an enlarged detail view of the mouth and throat 35; and

Fig. 13 is'a vertical cross section'a'l viewtaken looking in the direction of the arrows XIII-XIII ofFig'. 2 showing the mountingof throat A;

While in the course of this descriptionI shall refer" to the-apparatus illustrated, I wantit understood that this is done in compliance withthe by the: appendedfclaims;

Referring now to Fig.

strip stock: 'It comprises. the throat unit; generally' designated. at A and. the. forming roll. throat unit 13; Thebalance offitheapparatus. 4 deals with. the driveand; adjustment of these.

units:

The strip'stock ills. enters the feed drive hous:- ing 2|, in unit A from a spool or other stock" pile; and engaged byrfed' wheels 22; suitably di'iverr by motor 12 throughxte1scoping universal' driveshafts 23 and I-Iconnecting mechanism com"- prisingspun gear 24'; 25, 26; 21; Shafts 23 always rotateinconstantspeed ratio with respect to motor 12. The telescoping shafts 23 with toggle jointsdB: allow; housing 2lto be shifted. in its arcuate: base 29 to. get: various angular" settingsofrithroat unit outlet member. 35 inrelation to wheel. throatB'betweeniorming rolls 40:, M.

Wheels 1 22 are". preferably: spring pressed, as by spring 31, to insure adequate frictional contact on strip stockzfl' I Feed housing 2h has a; throat outlet portion 35 and is mounted in the sub-frame 30, which in turn is. carried main arcuate slotted base2 9,

having the center of the. arc in alignment with theborein housing 21. This-adjustment, made anglefmeasured at b in Figs. 10 andl'l'.

"As a further adjustment of feedhousing II and throat unit outlet: member 35 in frame 30;

.I' provide slot 33 -in frame- 30 with a cap screw 34 threaded into" housing 2| ,so that housing 2! and "itsthroat unit outletmember 35 may be moved toward] or awayfrom forming rolls and ll. This-adjustment changes thelengthtof dimensions w on Figs; 3, 4 and'5.

By meansof both the above adjustments; em-

ployed singly or" together; I can vary the pitch I ofth'econvolutions' given the strip 20.

Forming roll throat unit Bis composed of a pair of duplicate feed rolls 4ll-and*4 I; and driving meansmounted in machine base frame 32. In

operative'eifect these feed rolls form a rolling throatand, amongother things to be enumer ated," cooperate with throat-unit outlet member 35 give the' desired twist tostock" 20. Another l, have shownwthe generalassembly of one .iormof machine to carry .out my method. of imparting. convolutions: to:

4| adjustable to fit the function of rolls 40, 4| is to run in the convolutions and assure that they are evenly spaced and accurately formed. This means that for stock 20 of different width or pitch, the faces 40a and 4Ia of the rolls will be shaped to suit. This fit of roll 4| in convolutions 20a. is shown in Fig. 9.

Figs. 3 to 8 and particularly Figs. 3 to 5 show the reason why it is necessary to have rolls 40, particular pitch being given stock 20. In Figs. 3 and 6 the pitch is long so that rolls 40 and 4| are set in planes more nearly parallel than in Figs. 4 and '7 where the pitch is short and rolls 40 and 4| rotate in planes almost at rightangles to each other.

The correct angular setting for rolls 4!], 4| can be determined for each pitch (see dotted lines H in Figs. 3, 4 and 5). Also, the correct contour for faces 40a, 4|a can be determined for each pitch and width of stock 20. This will mean 1 that a plurality of sets of rolls 40,- 4| will be needed for a machine that is to be operated on various widths of stock 20, or to give stock convolutions of different pitch. (See Fig. 9.) For example; in Fig. 9, if the pitch were greater (more turns to the foot) the faces a.and 4|a would have to be narrower or more pointed.

As each forming roll 40, 4| is supported and driven by identical means, a description of the left-hand unit in Fig. 1 will be given. Here again, it is not my intention to limit my invention to precise details 'or'to exclude equivalent mechanisms which will accomplish the purpose of the form described.

Feed roll 4| is keyed to shaft 43 journaled in yoke 44 withlbevel gears 45, 46 secured on each end. Bevel gear 45 is keyed to shaft 43 while gear 46 runs free and is held on by collar 41. Yoke 44 is-recessed at 48- to allow free movement to' roll 40. I

Yoke'44 also'pro-vides the support for part of the drive means, including the drive gear 5|) in mesh with gears 45, 46; and spur gear 5| which is keyed to or integral with gear 50. The sleeve portion 52 of gear extends along yoke 44 far enoughto support spacer 53 and a partof thrust bearing 54. The left-hand half of thrust bearing 54 is secured in recess 55 on adjustable thrust sleeve 56.

Thrust sleeve 56 is threaded in a member rising from base frame 32, the purpose being to be able to adjustrolls 40, 4| toward or away from each other to suit the thickness of stock 20 being worked on. When once adiusted, thrust sleeve 56 is locked by means of collar 60 and nut 6|.

20 in feed drive housing 2|. Actually, this will call for a slightly slower peripheral speed for rolls 43, 4| than for rolls 22 because when twisted, stock 28 becomes shorter. The thing to be avoided is in having the relative speed such that rolls 22 will force the stock throughthroat unit outlet member 35 faster than rolls 4!], 4|. are forming it. This will cause a buckling and uneven pitch on stock 20. Practically, I have found the best way to be for rolls 40, 4| to be exerting a pull on stock 20, requiring it to slip slightly between rolls 40, 4| or rolls 22 or b0thas this assures a taut strip of stock 20 between the sets throat 40, 4|.

Yoke 44 extends through collar 60 and beyond. I

It has thread 62 to receive nut 6| and key way 63 to receive lug 66a to lock collar 60 to it. The purpose of this particular locking is to permit use of collar 6|) (with its indexing scale 64) to position shaft 43 and roll 4| at any predetermined angle for the pitch desired. (See Figs. 3 to 5.) This positioning of yoke 44 and roll 4| may be done by wo m 65 and pinion 66, the latter being keyed to yoke 44. A hand wheel 6! aids in rotatin worm 65.

When nut 6| is loosened, yoke 44 may be moved axially with relation to base frame 32 by rotating thrust sleeve 56 or it may rotating hand wheel 61.

Gears 5| are driven by pinions 10, 1| driven by motor 12 or other'suitable source of power. The gear ratio between forming rolls 40, 4| and feed rolls 22 is preferably such that the peripheral speed of each corresponds with the speed of stock be moved radially by of rolls 40, 4| and 22. To obtain the drive I provide a variable speed device on the end of motor shaft 13, comprising a faceplate 14. A second face plate 15 is mounted on end of shaft 16. Movement of plate 14 is transmitted to plate 15 through idler roll 11 mounted in supports rising from base frame 32 so that it can be shifted along shaft 18 by the usual yoke 19. A'spring keeps the plates 15, Hand idler 11 in good driving contact.

In Fig. 12 is shown the preferred shape of throat unit outlet member 35 having the flared faces to minimize the friction and stress on strip 2|) as it is shaped.

The operation of my device is as follows:

Assume it is desired to convert strip stock20 into spiral stock. The first step is to feed stock 20 into feed housing 2|. The latter will have been chosen with a throat unit outlet member 35 to fit the dimensions of stock 2!).

Throat'unit outlet member 35 is then adjusted toward or away from forming rolls 40, 4| to the 1 position a previously calculated to give the desired pitch to stockv 20 (see Figs. 3 to 5). If sufficient pitch cannot be obtained by this adjustment, throat unit outlet member 35 may be ro-.

tated on its axis by loosening cap screws 3! so as to change the angle b between the planeof throat unit outlet member 35 and the plane of wheel (See Figs. 10 and 11.) The pitch will be a factor of this angle b and the distance a between throat unit outlet member 35 and rolls 4!), 4|.

The next adjustment is to loosen lock nut 6| 4 and by rotating thrust sleeves 56 to set forming rolls 40, 4| with a clearance equal to the thickness ofstock 20. a

While nuts 6| are still loose, the next step is to turn handwheels 6'! to bring forming wheels 40, 4| into the proper angular position (pre-' viously calculated to a scale to correspond with dials 64) to fit the contour that strip 20 should assume as it passes between rolls 40, 4| (see Figs. 3 to 5 and 9). When set, nuts 6| are tightened.

The next thing to set is the speed regulator idler 11 so Wheels-22 turn with a peripheral speed calculated to feed strip 20 at exactly the speed it is being formed by rolls 4!), 4|, or at slightly less speed. Thus the strip between rolls 22 and rolls 40, 4| is under tension and not compression.

The machine is now ready to operate. Strip 20 should be inched through throat unit outlet member 35 and stopped short of rolls 4|], 4| long enough for the operator to give the projecting end of strip 20 a twist which will facilitate its entry into the throat gap between rolls 4!), 4|. When the machine is restarted, stripzfl will feed in between rolls 40, 4| and the proper pitch will be imparted to strip 20. As it leaves rolls 40, 4|

it is completely formed with accurate, evenly ing 80.;

I mmmne .lm-iother wayiof [describing rflselzmeansriorladjusting wthe :rfol'ls dill and $41" and their :respective shafts for varying :pitches, fiS tto, :say ithat zzthese 1st member with respect to snammingmns so rolls ;or shafts are n'ncved about :a :line that iineludesp'a diameter ofibtithczrolls. 3 clear .fmmfigsudtl, andgfigfor it will be seenmhatla diameter ton feachlrdll :is substantial alignment.

'whatil cclaim is: f l

71. .In a machine for making,spiralisstripastock; the combination of a frame, atpairvofuyohes J'burnaled therein on a substantially common axis, 1

means for securing said ydkes against rotation in selected positions, a shaft rotatably journaled in each yoke at right angles to the above axis, a f

forming roll secured to each shaft, a bevel gear secured to each shaft, drive gear enmeshed therewith and rotating about each yoke axis, means for rotating said drive gears, a feed housing mounted in said frame, and having a throat unit outlet member substantiall fitting said strip stock, means for moving said throat member toward or away fromsaid forming rolls, means for rotating said throat member about its axis and securing it in selected positions, rotating feeding means in said feed housing, a variable drive connecting said rotating means with said forming rolls whereby their relative speeds may be changed to suit.

2. In a machine for in selected positions, a shaft rotatably journaled in each yoke at right angles to the above axis, a forming roll secured to each shaft, a bevel gear secured to each shaft, drive gears enmeshed therewith and rotating about each yoke axis, means for rotating said drive gears, afeed house ing mounted in saidframe, and having a throat unit outlet member substantially fitting said strip stock, means for moving said throatmember toward or away from said forming rolls, rotating feeding means in said feed housing, a variable drive connecting said rotating means with said be changed to suit. i I

3. In a machine for making spiralstrip stock, the combination of a frame, a pair of forming forming rolls whereby their relative speed may rolls, a shaft supporting each roll and to which,

it is secured, oppositely set yokes in which said shafts are 'journaled; said yokes' in turn bein'g making spiral strip stock, the combination of a frame, a pair of yokes jourf naled therein on a substantially common axis, means for securing said yokes against rotation as 'zto "the :twist to stn'ck.

2.5.5111 a machine forrmaking spiral :strip (stack, theicomibination f a frame, :pair' ofifonming rolls, a shaft supporting each :roll :and to which itliS :secured', oppositely ISBt ryches in" which said shafts tare liournaled said wyokes in turn ,heing iournalednin said frame, means for rotating and securing said *yokes iagainst notation in selected positions to thereby :change ithe angular relation between :theiplanes iof *rdtati on :offisaid forming roills, shiive means to dotate s'aid troll-supporting (shafts, la feed throatuutlet niemberzspacedaway from said rolls and positioned .to choldl'said strip stock in a twisted position in relation to its position while engaged by said rolls, means for propelling said strip stock in said feed throat outlet member, and a variable drivemeans between said strip propeller and said feed roll whereby the relative speed of each may be controlled.

6. In a machine for making spiral strip stock, the combination of a feed housing having at one end, a feed throat outlet member to fit said stock, means for propelling the stock in said housing,

. a pair of forming rolls arranged to contact oppomeans for propelling the stock in said housing,

a pair of forming rolls arranged to contactIoppo-L site sides of said stock adjacent a line extending in axial alignment with the bore of said feed housing, a driven shaft supporting each roll,

means for mounting said shafts so they may be shifted and thereby change the angle between the planes of rotation of said rolls, means for securing said mounting means in any predeter- .mined position, and means for driving said shafts, said driving means and said means for journaled in said frame, means for rotating and securing said yokes against rotation in selected positions to thereby change the angular relation between the planes of rotation of said forming rolls, drive means'to rotate said roll supporting shafts, and a feed throat outlet member spaced away from said rolls and positioned to hold said strip stock in a twisted position in relation to.

its position while engaged by said rolls,

4. In a machine for makingspiral strip stock,

propelling the stock in the feed housing having a variable drive connection whereby the stock while moving betweensaid rolls and said propelling means may be held under tension.

8. In a machine for making spiral strip stock, the combination of a feed housing having at one end a feed throat outlet member with surfaces to fit against opposite sides of said stock and hold it against rotation, a pair of forming rolls spaced the combination of a frame, a pair of forming rolls, a shaft supporting each roll and to which it is secured, oppositely set yokesin which said shafts are journaled, saidyokes in turnbeing jcurnaled in said frame, means for rotating and securing said yokes against rotation in selected positions to thereby change the angular relation between the planes of rotation of said forming rolls, drive means to rotate said roll supporting shafts, a feed throat outlet member spaced away from said rolls and positioned to hold said strip stock in a twisted position in relation to its position while engagedby said rolls,\ and means.

for changing the position of said feed throat outadjacent a line extending in axial alignment with.

the axis of said feed housing, a driven shaft supporting each roll, means for adjusting said rolls about a line that includes a diameter of both rolls, means for securing said shafts and rolls in any such predetermined position, and means for driving said shafts regardless of the positions into which they may be moved.

9. In a machine for making spiral strip stock, the combination of a feed housing having at one end a feed. throat outlet member with surfaces to fit against opposite sides of saidstock and hold it against rotatiommeans for feeding strip stock therethrough, driving means for said feed means, a pair of forming rollsspaced adjacent a line extending in axial alignment with the axis of said feed (housing, a driven shaft supporting each roll, means for adjusting said rolls about a line that includes a diameter oi'both rolls, means for securing said shafts and rolls in any predetermined position, and means for driving said shafts regardless of the positions into which they may be moved. I

10; In amachine for making spiral strip stock of varying pitch, the combination of a, feed throat outlet member with surfaces for holding said stock against rotation therein, a pair of forming rolls mounted to rotate in planes which intersect, means for driving said rolls, and means for adjusting s'aid. rolls about'a line that includes a diameter of both rolls to'vary the pitch imparted to the strip stock.

11. In a machine for bending spiral strip stock of varying pitch, the combination of a feed throat outlet member with surfaces for holding said stock against rotation therein, a pair of forming rolls mounted substantially in alignment with said throat to rotate in planes which intersect, means for driving said rolls, and means for changing the distance between said throat and said forming rolls, whereby the pitch in the strip 10 stock may be varied.

RICHARD F. HEIN'EMANN. 

